alec_tronn
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Homework Statement
We were asked in a class discussion if we could try to figure out the recurrence relation of the Fibonacci squared sequence. I correctly figured that the equation was
F^{2}_{n}=2F^{2}_{n-1} + 2F^{2}_{n-2} - F^{2}_{n-3}
with F^{2}_{1} = 0 and F^{2}_{2} = 1 and F^{2}_{3} = 1.
Now, our class homework is to prove it.
The Attempt at a Solution
My first instinct is proof by induction. So I start with:
Test the hypothesis with n=4 (since n=1,2,3 are given by definition).
F^{2}_{4} = 2F^{2}_{3} + 2F^{2}_{2} - F^{2}_{1}
= 2 + 2 - 0
= 4, which agrees with original definition(because F^{1}_{4} = 2, and thus F^{2}_{4} = 4).
So, the formula holds for some arbitrary but fixed n (n being a member of the natural numbers).
Test n+1.
F^{2}_{n+1} = (F^{1}_{n} + F^{1}_{n-1})^{2} (by definition. of Fib. Sequence)
=F^{2}_{n} + 2 F^{1}_{n} * F^{1}_{n-1} + F^{2}_{n-1} (by distribution)
= 2F^{2}_{n-1} + 2F^{2}_{n-2} - F^{2}_{n-3} + 2 F^{1}_{n} * F^{1}_{n-1} + 2F^{2}_{n-2} + 2F^{2}_{n-3} - F^{2}_{n-4} (by the induction hypothesis)
= 2F^{1}_{n-1} * (F^{1}_{n} + F^{1}_{n-1}) + 4F^{2}_{n-2} + F^{2}_{n-3} - F^{2}_{n-4}
=2F^{1}_{n-1} * F^{1}_{n+1} + 4F^{2}_{n-2} + F^{2}_{n-3} - F^{2}_{n-4}
That's where I'm stuck. I know (or think I know) that I'm supposed to end up with :
F^{2}_{n+1} = 2F^{2}_{n} + 2F^{2}_{n-1} - F^{2}_{n-2} and so for every n for which the formula is valid, the formula is also valid for n+1. By induction, the formula works for all of the natural numbers.
Could anyone help me figure out the part I'm stuck at?